Higher Education Quality and Global Rankings: An Empirical Study

Abstract

University rankings throughout the world have become a very important instrument in assessing the quality of higher education institutions. Policymakers, students and faculty use these rankings to evaluate the performance and reputation of the global universities. Nevertheless, these rankings are usually misconstrued by the factors that lead to their establishment, which do not always represent the actual quality of education that these institutions offer. The study focuses on the relationship between quality of higher education and the international rankings of universities. This paper examines the impact of the following factors on the ranking of universities by analyzing key indicators of productivity in research, faculty quality, student satisfaction and the institutional resources. The study, through statistical analysis and regression models, concludes that though research output and faculty qualification are significant determinants of university rankings, other elements like teaching quality, student satisfaction and student services have a significant role, though not fully appreciated, on the overall educational experience. The article also reveals the hazards of ranking-focused demeanors and suggests a moderate way of university evaluations.